Apparatus for removing tar from coal-gases.



E. SOLVAYi APPARATUS FOR REMOVING TAR FROM GOAL GASES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.15,1910.

963 401. Patented July-5.1910.

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APPARATUS FOR REMOVING TAR FROM GOAL-GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented any 5, retro,

Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial no. 555,584;

practical success of such an operation entails a preliminary separation of the tar contained in the gases. Now hitherto this separation .of the tar has been effected while accompanied by a cooling process so that it was necessarily attended by condensationof water. It has been proposed to recover the tar at temperatures at which the water does not condense and it has also more particularly been proposed to use liquid tar itself as a liquid serving to recover the tar in sus-' pension in the gas. These various proposals are published in prior publications and belong to the domain of common knowledge. This invention consists of an apparatus suitable for carrying out the operation of removing the tar in the presence of heat.

The new or improved apparatus comprises a-splashing column or gas scrubber and two surface heat regulators adapted to suitably regulate the temperatures of the gas at the inlet and at the outlet of the scrubber, and a surface heat regulator for controlling the temperature of the tar supplied to such scrubber. This arrangement of apparatus is essential for correcting the variations of temperature resulting from the distillation and as the proper working of the entire apparatus necessitates the whole of the water remaining in the state of vapor but without being uselessly superheated, it is necessary that means should be provided for raising or'lowering the temperature of the gases: and tar at will.

The scrubber is of the ordinary type of washing apparatus employed in the gas in dustry, that is to say it comprisesvsuperposed sections the bottoms of which are provided with splashers and a passage -for the descent of the tar from top to bottom, and an arrangement for the methodical passage of the gases in the opposite direction that is to say from the bottom to the top. Itembodies however one novel and characteristic feature. The known apparatus of this kind are only provided with an arrangement for the supply of liquid at the top. Experience has shown however that it is not possible to insure in this way the necessary homogeneity of the washing liquid and ac cording to the present invention theusual system of working is modified by providing a special inlet for the tar supply at each "section orseries of sections and also a special outlet at each section or series of sections. On the accompanyingdiagrammatic illustration of a plant according to this inven- -tion only three inlets and three outlets are shown in order not to complicate the drawmg.

The improved arrangement enables the methodical recovery'of the taI in the gas to be effected by the tar supplied to the apparatus in that as the temperature of the tar in the apparatus decreases in an upward directlon, such tar recovers successively the whole of the constituents of the tar in the gas from the heaviest, which are recovered at the bottom'of the apparatus to the lightest, which are recovered at the top of the apparatus. This mode of proceeding implies a different temperature in each section or compartment, contrary to certain proc esses wherein a fixed temperature is maintained throughout,

The temperature regulators for the gases comprise casings in which a double system of pipes ena bles'the gases that have to be heated or cooled by a hotter or cooler me-- dium to, be brought into contact Without mingling with each other;

The source of heat may if desired bethe heat ofthe tars leaving'th'e apparatus or any other suitable source, this not being an essential point however. In the accompanying drawing the flue for the burned gases is shown as the-source of heat;

The most convenient source of cold or refri eration seems to be the atinps heric air as it lends itself better to being' 'a mitted at the point required by a simple arrangement of vanes, as shown in the drawing, the whole being combined with. a ventilator for each regulator; Other refrigerating means may howeverbe employed; for instance a current of water maybe'used.

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the temperature-controlling apparatus 1) and is-fed by means of cocks 0 to each of the compartments of the scrubber d. A l'ter assing through said scrubber the tar isdeivered through the several outletse into the tar collecting tank f which is provided with an outlet 9 for drawing off the surplus.

h is the tar pump, 2' and j the two as temperature controllers, is and Z the ans for each of the latter, m the gas flue.

The circulation of he gas is indicated by double arrows and that of the heating or cooling fluid by single arrows.

j n is the-cold air inlet which maybe pro- 4 vided if desired; I

In operation, the gas from the retorts passes through the collecting vessel a, said gas then passing to and through the temperature controller "5, then to and through the scrubber 03, then to. and through the temperature controller j and to the place of storage or The tar collected in the vessel (1, runs through the'temperature controller I) and then, under the control of the cooks a, to and through compartments of the scrubber d, escaping through the outlets e and passing to the collecting tank f from which it may be. pumped by means of a pump it backto the vessel a, surplus tar passing out throughthe out-let g.

The gas flue m isconnected by means of suitable conduits with both of the tempera ture controllers i and. 7', fans is and Zbeing located in said conduits. Connected with said conduits areother conduits n for a cooling medium, the conduits being provided with suitable valves as indicated in the drawings whereby either the gas from flue m, which may be employed as a heating me-' dium, or cold air through the conduits a,

may be sent through the temperature con- .trollers i and j. I

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for recovering the tar from coal gases and maintaining such gasesat the proper temperature for their saturatlon by ac ds, 1n combination a gas washing scrubber comprising superpose sectlons,

inlets for the-washing liquid to two or more of said sections, and outlets for the said liquid from the same, an inlet for the gases to the said scrubber, an outlet for the gases therefrom; temperature regulator's inconnection with the said gas inlet, and outlet and a temperature regulator in connection with the inlets for the washing liquid to the scrubber. v

2. In apparatus for freeing coal gases from tar, of the character described, in combination a gas washing scrubber comprising superposed sections, an inlet for the washing liquid to each of said sections, an outlet for said liquid from each of said sections, an

inlet for the gases at the bottom of said scrubber, an outlet for the gases at the top thereof and surface heat re lators in connection with the washing liquid inlets and the gas inlet and outlet respectively.

3. Apparatus for removln the tar from coal gases, of the character escribed, comprisinga gas Washing scrubber made 1n sections, inlets for the washing liquid to a number of said sections andoutlets for the said liquid from the same, an inlet for the gases at the bottom of said scrubber, an outlet for the gases at the top thereof and heat controllers in connection with the washing liquid inlets and the gas inlet and outlet respec-' tively.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

ERNEST soLvAY.

Witnesses:

J. L. Funs'rnmrorn'. GREGORY PHELAN. 

